… Stars primed for Athletico de Luanda
JOHANNESBURG/WINDHOEK – Namibian champions Black Africa touched down at the Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening aboard Air Namibia.
Their hosts Kaizer Chiefs and the South African Football Association (SAFA) laid out the red carpet for the visitors, whose entourage included a sizable contingent of non-playing personnel and media hacks. The Namibian entourage was bussed into the city in comfort to their luxury lodgings, where they will be holed up for the next four days. However, this is where the brotherly hospitality ends when the Namibian champions take on their South African counterparts Kaizer Chiefs in the first leg of the preliminary round of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg tomorrow at 20h15. Fresh from a nine match unbeaten run in the domestic league, Chiefs are on fire but the Namibian champions are unruffled for now at least and their mentor Brian Isaacs, oozed confidence ahead of the Dawid vs Goliath clash in the knowledge that his team has a crystal clear idea of what to expect from their opponents, whereas BA remains a closed book to Chiefs.
“We watched Chiefs on the telly (on Wednesday evening) when they defeated Suportsport United 1-0 in the league and have devised a plan to absorb their pressing game. Chiefs play with lots of intensity going forward and like to attack with their wing backs, but we have the capacity to break down their forays,” said the highly motivated former Black Africa midfield icon.
Nevertheless, he is very much aware of the big occasion and cautioned his players against potential stage fright. “Our initial game plan is not to allow them any room to manoeuvre and settle to their customary passing game, which is primarily based on ball possession and quick counter-attack.
I have instructed my players to stop them from bossing the midfield and try as much as they can to disrupt their usual fluidity with the ultimate aim to derail their rhythm and once we achieve that objective – the battle will be half won.”
Chiefs are not taking the Namibian semi-professionals lightly and rested few of their leading players in the midweek potential league title decider against Supersport United, with one eye fixed on tomorrow’s match against the Namibian champions. News from Naturena is that the Soweto giants are keen to make short thrift of the visitors in Johannesburg in order to chalk a comfortable lead before travelling to the land of the brave for the decisive final leg. Meanwhile, the fans of the phefeni (glamour boys) are waiting with bated breath for new signing Katlego ‘Killer’ Mphela to make his debut for the Soweto giants. Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter might be tempted to throw the big frame striker into the mix of things against the undisputed Namibian champions. Black Africa held its first training session on South African soil yesterday morning where head coach Isaacs, and his two assistants, Eric Quest and Otto Landsberg took the players through their paces. The visitors were due to wrap-up their final preparations at the match venue last night.
New signings, Quinton Jacobs, Steven Sabatha and much travelled veteran goalkeeper Efraim Tjihonge, will be watching the match from the stands.
The trio could not be registered in time for the first round preliminaries. In tonight’s CAF action, African Stars are at home at the Sam Nujoma Stadium where they lock horns with Petro Athletico de Luanda of Angola in the 1st leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round.
Speaking to New Era Sports yesterday, Stars coach Woody Jacobs promised nothing but fire works from his charges, saying he is happy with the team’s preparations and the players’ level of fitness. “I have seen them play and by now we know their style of play, so we are ready for whatever they have in store for us, but our aim is to at least win the match with more than two goals, just to make it easier for us going into the 2nd leg,” said Jacobs.
By Carlos Kambaekwa and Otniel Hembapu